I can still vividly remember the first few days of our life in France.  Surrounded by packing boxes, not entirely sure of where anything was but so happy to think we were finally there: here was our new home.  Yes, it needed work doing to it and yes, to be honest, we weren’t really sure where to start but we were proud and happy to know that we had bought our little corner of France.

Any move brings with it some stress and moving abroad naturally brings with it a feeling at the beginning of unfamiliarity to a certain extent.  However, the most important thing to remember is that you have time, you have no-one else to tell you what to do outside of your immediate family and you can now relax a little.  In other words, breathe a huge sigh of relief, forget about all there is to do, pour yourself a glass of wine or put the kettle on and let everything sink in: that is the first thing to do.  Next, give yourself a good pat on the back!  You have achieved what many only dream about.

The basics of life are important at the start so pay some attention to making up the beds, finding the toaster and putting out clean towels.  If you are comfortable at the start you will find the process of settling in a whole lot easier.  Unpacking boxes of books, pictures, pots and pans can wait a while. Ease yourself into your new home gradually and remember that it is how you adapt to your surroundings which counts the most.

French folk are by and large very friendly and everyone loves to give advice.  A visit to your Mairie will pay dividends.  Introduce yourself to the staff there, tell them you have just moved in and ask for advice on local customs such as what system is in place for rubbish collection and the like.  Don’t worry if your French is not up to scratch.  Even an attempt at making yourself understood will pay dividends and you will almost certainly find a few people who have a smattering of English.

Get out and about as much as you can in the first few weeks.  If you have a local bar, pay a visit and chat to the owners and other customers.  Make sure you buy your morning baguette from the local bakery, find out where the markets are and make an effort to chat.  One thing leads to another and even if you make a couple of acquaintances at the start, this will soon snowball and you will find yourself making friends easily.

If, like us, you are looking to have work done on your house, try to employ local tradesmen.  There is a great community feel in rural France and you will quickly gain the respect and friendship of your neighbours by supporting your village or town.

We have always found that there is less of a feeling of status in France: no-one worries where you come from, what car you drive or what job you do.  Once you are a little more settled and have found your sofa, coffee table and wine glasses, plan a little soiree and invite the neighbours in for an “apero”.  Chances are that many local people will know you have bought a house in their neck of the woods and will welcome a chance not only to say hello but to take a sneaky look around your property.  Maybe you have a garden or some land, in which case asking where the best place is to source plants or buy seeds for vegetables will be warmly reciprocated.

Above all, remember that Rome was not built in a day and you will gradually get to know the ropes in your new home in France, even though there may be days when you are not quite sure of something you perhaps took for granted in the UK. 

The key to a successful start to your new life in France is to take things gradually, smile and be friendly.    You have all the time in the world to put those bookshelves up!  Enjoy it!